Time to end Israeli occupation of Palestine: Iran’s UN envoy

The Iranian ambassador to the UN has slammed the rising wave of Israeli violence against Palestinians, calling on the international community to stop the Tel Aviv regime’s aggression and occupation of Palestinian territories.

Speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council on Thursday, Gholam Ali Khoshrou held Israel responsible for the ongoing tensions in Palestine, saying the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) believes “the time has come for ending the occupation [of Palestinian lands] by Zionists.”

The Iranian envoy, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of NAM, denounced Tel Aviv as the source of “instability, despair and rage in the Middle East,” adding that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands as well as the failure to punish the regime for its crimes against the oppressed nation pose a “threat to world peace.”

Khoshrou reaffirmed NAM’s support for Palestinian people and their inalienable rights, saying the movement’s member states regard the continuation of Israel’s illegal occupation as “the main obstacle in the way of achieving peace in the Middle East.”

The top diplomat further urged the Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities under the UN body’s Charter, and work to come up with a “peaceful and fair solution” to the Palestinian issue.

The comments come as tensions have been running high in the occupied territories between the Israeli regime and Palestinians over the past several weeks.

The latest wave of tensions was triggered by Israel’s imposition in August of restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Palestinians are also angry at increasing violence by illegal Israeli settlers, who frequently storm the al-Aqsa Mosque. Palestinians say the Tel Aviv regime seeks to change the status quo of the compound.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, more than 54 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds others injured since the Israeli regime began a harsh crackdown in early October on the protests.